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Page 6 of 13 F. Parking Islands – Flexibility Shown Zoning Code requires that planting islands shall occupy at least ten (10) percent of the parking area. Planting islands shall be edged with concrete curbs. In addition, parking lot planting islands shall be a minimum of 150 square feet in area, be of appropriate width and length, and include at least one tree meeting the requirements of this ordinance. As part of the PUD approval, the Applicant had received flexibility on this requirement. The table below compares the city code requirements to the landscaping plan approval as part of the PUD and the Applicants request as part of the Site Plan Review. The Applicant has reversed the code requirements of where flexibility is sought as part of the Site Plan Review (i.e. from 10% to trees). Similarly to the parking lot setback, the Applicant is requesting City Council consideration under the Site Plan Review to continue to allow flexibility from Section 1325.05, Subd. 1, F.7 for Parking Islands in overall terms of the code provision rather than requiring the need to apply for a PUD Amendment. Staff has informed the Applicant that this may be considered outside of the scope of the original approval. Planning Staff has included a recommended condition of approval that an amended site plan that complies with parking island requirements under Section 1325.05, Subd. 1, F.7, Landscaping Minimum Requirements be provided to the Zoning Department for approval prior to issuance of permits. G. Tree Selection – Meets Requirements The proposed updated landscape plan includes a variety of tree species, including maples, oaks and evergreens, ranging in size from two and half (2.5) to six (6) caliper inches. This is consistent with ordinance requirements. The Applicant is proposing to plant six (6) to twelve (12) foot tall evergreens. H. Landscaped Area and Perennials and Shrubberies – Flexibility Granted Zoning Code requires 35 percent of the site to be landscaped or 339,674 square feet for this site. The Zoning Code additionally requires a minimum of 10 percent of the total landscaped area to be covered with perennials and/or shrubbery. The total landscaped area on the site is 652,668 square feet, resulting in the need for a minimum of 65,266 square feet of perennial and shrubbery cover. The Applicant has been approved for 2,888 square feet (857 plants) of perennial and shrub planting beds. In addition, the Applicant was approved for the use of over 170,000 square feet of Mesic Prairie seed mix onsite. Mesic Prairie is a prairie plant community dominated by native grasses such as big bluestem, switchgrasses and including abundant wildflowers. The updated landscaping plan shows the perimeter of the proposed parking lot expansion would still be planted with the Mesic Prairie seed mix, but that area has been reduced down to 43,545 Parking Lot Area 10% Parking Island Proposed Parking Island Area Required Planting Island Trees Proposed Planting Island Trees PUD Approval – Oct. 2020 111,769 sq. ft. 11,177 sq. ft. 6,178 sq. ft. 33 34 Site Plan Review - 2021 179,395 sq. ft. 17,940 sq. ft. 18,444 sq. ft. 44 41